Loading machine



Jan. 19, 193.2. N. D. LEVIN 1,841,541

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed March 15, 1922 4 Sheets-sheet 1 a) 11v VENTOR Wlmrseaj 40. 276% M /0Z A TTORN'EY Jan. 19,- 1932. N. D. LEVIN LOADING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 15, 1922 I aim INVENTOR 4477:?! mm. ak/Led A TTORNEY Jan. 19, 1932. N. D. LEVIN LOADING MACHINE Original Filed March 15, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR A TTORNE Y V 1 ill. V/////// 4 v Jan. l9, 1932; N. D.- LEVIN 1,841,541 i LOADING MACHINE 7 Original Fild March 15, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 11v VENIOR 40 line V-V of 31g.

Patented as. 1a 1932 rarest NILS D. LEVIN, G COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MAITUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, QHIO, A CORPORATION F OHIO LOADING MACHINE Application filed March 15, 1922, Serial No. 543,933. Renewedflctober 20, 1928.

The present invention relates to certain 7 new and useful improvements in loading machines, and particularlyto that class of load ing machines which is adapted to use in coal I mines to gather, the dislodged material from the floor of the mine and load it into suitably positioned cars for transportation from the mines.

- The especial object of this invention is to 10 provide a machine ofthe classdescribed, havmeansto adjust the gathering and loading mechanism in vertical planes.

Another object is to provide improved mechanism for propelling the machine along the tracks of the mine. from one working '25 place to another.

These and other objects will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings of which N Fig. lis a side elevation of the preferred 30 embodiment of my invention, adjusted to operative loading position.

Fig. 2 is' a side elevation of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 adjusted to traveling position. 1

s a plan view of the machine illus- 1 and 2.

sectional view taken lvlv of Fig. 1. Fi 5 is a sectional view taken along the along the onal View taken along the Vl''VI of Fig. 3. o

7 is a sectional view takenalongthe line VH ll of Fig. 6.

j is a sectional view taken line Ville-VH1 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken line lX-lX of 3.

Fig. 10 is a frontelevaticn of some of the shown in ralongthe along the ig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the supporting truck illustrating the conveyor adjusting and truck propelling mechanisms.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line XIIIXIII of Fig. 3.

Figs-14, 15 and 16 are diagrammatic figures illustratingthe method of operating my improved loading machine in a room of a mine.

Like numerals refer to similar partsin the several figures. I

As shownin the drawings, my improved loading machine comprises tin-elongated conveyor having a substantially horizontal gathering section adapted to rest upon and slide over the floor of. the mine to gather material therefrom, a rearwardly and. upwardly inclined portion and a substantially horizontal'delivery portion adapted to project above a car suitably, positioned upon the track in the rear of the machine. The conveyor above described is mounted upon a truck adapted to travel along the rails of the track, and these parts are associated with power actuated mechanism to move the conveyor along horizontal lines and to adjust it in vertical planes.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 refersto the main truck frame upon which the conveyor is supported, and thenumerals 2 and 3 refer to the wheels upon which the truck frame is supported for transportation from one working place to another. Fixed to the rear part of the truck frame are two upstanding pedestals 4,'in each of which there is ournaled a vertical shaft 5. Formed on the shafts 5 are screw threads which engage the nuts 6 upon which rest the ends of the downwardly projecting legs 7, formed integral with the cross 'bar 8 and constituting a supporting frame on which the-conveyor frame is laterally slidable transversely of the machine. lhe nuts 6 are slidable in, guideways of the pedestals 4: and move upwardly or downwardly in said guideways when the shafts 5 are rotated. nn e lower ends of the 5 are mounted sprocket wheels 9 which are adapted to be connected with their respective shafts by the clutch members 10, and operating handles 11 are arranged within convenient reach of the operator for the manipulation of these clutches. An endless chain 12 passes around the sprocket wheels 9 and after passing around suitable guide wheels fixed to the truck frame, is engaged by the sprocket wheel 1-1. The sprocket wheel 1 1 is attached to the lower end of the verti .il shaft 15 which is supported in suitable bearings of the housing casting 16, and has at its upper end a bevel gear wheel 17. T he wheel 17 is engaged by bevel pinion 18 attached to a horizontal shaft 19 supported in bearings of the housing 16. The shaft 19 is in alignment with a shaft 20 journaled in bearings of the gear housing 21, and is connected thereto by a jaw clutch 22 of well known construction.

Mounted upon the shaft 20 is a sleeve 23 to which is heyed the worm wheel The worm wheel 24 is engaged by a worm 25 supported in bearings of the gear housing 21 and connected directly to the armature shaft of the motor 27. A multiple disc friction clutch 28 is arranged to connect the worm gear 2 1 with the shaft 20, and an operating lever 29 is arranged to control the actuation of the clutch in the manner well understood in the art. A sprocket wheel 30, mounted upon the shaft 20 and connectable thereto by the clutch 31, is connected by the endless chain 32 with a similar sprocket wheel 33 fixed to the axle 33 1 to actuate the driving wheels 2 to propel the machine along toe rails 35 of the mine tracks. Interlocking clutch shifting mechanism is provided in the rod 36 and shift levers 3'? and 38 to control the clutches 22 and 31 and prevent the actuation of the truck driving mechanism and the conveyor adjusting mechanism at the same time. Electric current for the actuation of the motor27 is derived from the feeder wires of .he mine through a flexible cable 39 which is arranged to be automatically payed out from, or wound upon a cable reel -10 in the manner which is well understood in the mining art. An endless belt 11 engages the pulley 4-2 upon the cable reel, and the pulley 13 upon the shaft 20 to supply power for the actuation of the cable reel. The motor 21'' may be controlled in any preferred manner, but as devices of this class are well undestood, and as they form no part of the present invention, their illustration and description not thought to be required.

Extending transversely of the truck frame 1 at its forward end is an arcuate rail it upon which is slidably supported for longitudinal movement a bearing member 415 attached to the conveyor frame and upon which said frame may rock in any direction. The bearing member is in the nature of a block attached to the conveyor fraie and having its contact face with rail 4-1, appropriately shaped to permit the rocking of the frame. This arcuate rail 1 1 projects at both sides of the truck frame for a purpose which will presently appear.

The conveyor comprises an elongated frame, designated as an entirety by the numeral 46. This frame consists of a pan 17 having flaring side walls 18 and which is divided into two parallel troughs by the two parallel longitudinally extending chain guides, each of which consists essentially of the upper angle bar 19 and the lower angle bar 50, (see Figs. 7 and 8), in which travels the endless conveyor chain 51. On certain of the chain links there are formed sockets 52 in which are secured the renewable cutter bits 53 of the type commonly used with the cutter chains of coal mining machines. These sockets 52 and-the bits 53 project laterally from the chain and constitute the material propelling clement of the conveyor.

The pan parts 47 and the angle bars 49 and 50 are connected together by various transverse bars, plates and castings to form a rigid structure. Attached to the rearward ends of the angle bars 19 and 50 is a casting 54 upon which is formed a euideway and upon this guideway is slidably mounted for movement longitudinally of the conveyor frame. a bearing casting 56 in which is journaled the vertical head shaft 57. To the head shaft 57 is attached a sprocket wheel 58 which is adapted to engase the conveyor chain 51 and to turn it around the rearward end of the conveyor frame. Attached to the vert cal shaft 57 is a bevel gear wheel 59 which is engaged by a pinion 6O fixed to the longitudinally extending shaft 61 to drive the sprocket wheel 58 and actuate the conveyor chain 51. The shaft 61 is supported in suitable bearings rtachcd to the conveyor frame, and has fixed to its forward end a sleeve 62 on the end of which is formed clutch teeth adapted to engage with the corresponding teeth of the clutch member 63 which is slidable upon the power shaft 64. from which power deri ed to actuate the conveyor. Means is provided in the adjusting screw 65 to move the bearing casting to tension the chain 51 in the manner common in conveyor practice.

Formed on the casting 56 concentric with the shaft 57 is a downwardly projecting pivot stud 66 which engages with a bee 'ing SOCk-izt- 67 formed at the outer end of the pivot yoke 68. The pivot yoke 68 is hinged to the lugs 69 formed on the cross bar 8, and serves to hold the delivery end of the conveyor in a position central of the track to deliver material to a car 70 standing thereon adjacent the rearward end of the machine, while permitting sufiicient flexibility in vertical planes for the vertical adjustment of the conveyor. A machine screw 71 which projects throiugh a hold these parts in operative relation.

' At the lower end of the frame 46is secured a casting compr1s1ng essentially an upper wall 100 and lateral walls 101 and 102 (see Figs. 8 and 9.). A pivot pin '53 is disposed in aligned apertures in walls 101 and 10:2 and passes through an aperture formedin the central cylindrical portion 1030f a casting 104. 'l he casting 10% has rearwardly extending vertical flanges 105 joined by a web 106, and to the forward portion of the casting is secured an extension frame 74 in the nature ofa gathering frame and cutter arm. The bottom of casting 10 is provided with a shoe '72 adapted to rest on and slide over the floor of the mine, supporting the weight of the front end of the conveyor if the latter has been elevated suiiicientlyon cross member 8 to disengage members 1 1 and 45. i

The gathering frame 74 is adapted to rest upon and slide over the floor of the mine, and

, theconnection with the pivot pin-73affords sufficient flexibility to allow it to follow the irregularities of the floor of the mine. The pivot ?3 also permits the rear end of the conveyor to be vertically adjusted without effecting the horizontal position of gathering 30 frame 74. lVhile frame a is pivoted to frame 46 for free pivotal movement, it will be noted that this movement will be limited in one direction by reason of the abutment of flanges 105 with wall 100. Thus when themain frame 46 is'tilted as in 2 the'gathering frame will be bodily elevated clear of the floor. The gathering frame 7 1 is provided with lateral chain guides registering with the chain guides of the conveyor frame d6, and at its forward end there is mounted upon a suitable anti-friction bearing'75, a sprocket wheel 7 6 whichengages the conveyor chain 51 to turn it around the end of the frame with a minimum of frictional'resistance. As there is no trough along either side of the gathen ing frame 74, thelateral projections of the conveyor chain are in position to engage with material lying upon the floor of the mine, and drag itinto the trough of the inclined portion of the conveyor.

Mountedupon the power shaft 64: and operatively connected therewith, is an eccentric 77 having .a ii'eccentric rod 78 connected to a cross headi79 adapted to reciprocation in vertical guideways 80 attached to the conveyor frame. The cross, head '59 is connec ed to a rocker arm 81 rotatable about a hori- V zontal shaft 82 which is supported in suitable journal bearings 88 depending om lih veyor frame 46. Fiited to the en cent the rocket arm 81, is a ratchet rotation of the shaft 82, but as these devices form no part of the present invention, their 'uescription is not thought to be required.

Freely mounted upon the shaft 82 and con nectable thereto by the sliding clutch members86 and 8? respectively, are the winding drums 88 and 89 upon which are windable the feed ropes 90 and 91. The clutch memers 86 and 87 are controlled by the clutch op erating levers 2 and 93 which are connected together by the transverse pull rod 9-1 having operating handles 95 convenient to the hand of the operator at bothsides of the machine. The pull rod 94: is provided with aprojection 90adapted to engagement with suitabi positioned notches formed ina flange 9'? de pending from the conveyor frame, and coiled springs 98, mounted upon the clutch levers 92 and 93, resiliently press thero d 9% to hold the projection 96 in engagement With the said notches to prevent accidental shifting ofrthe ends are attached to the opposite ends of the arcuate rail 14. W hen the shaft 82 is'rotating, movement of the pull rod towards the right hand side of the machine will cause the clutch member 8'? to engage the winding drum 89 to wind the feed rope 91, andas the drum 881s free to permit the V rope 90 to unwind, the conveyor frame will be drawn toward the left hand end of the rail 4 1. As the rearward end of the conveyor frame is held against the lateral movement by the pivot yoke 68, the gather ng frame 74; will be moved over the floor of the mine towards the left to forcibly engage material lying upon the floor of the mine, and cause the bits 53 upon the conveyor chain 51 to engage said material and move it onto and'along the conveyor trough. 7

Should the material upon the mine floor be composed of blocks too'large to be handled by the conveyoiy'or should the mass be composed of fragments so interlocked as to actuate the drum 88 to wind the rope 90 I "a d. draw the gathering devices toward the ght instead of toward the left as described.

In operation the machine, adjusted to the tionedadjacent the Working face along which materiahas'been dislodged to form a mass of broken coal lying uponthe tion illustrated inFig. 2, is movedby' floor along said arcuate rail. 7 r r 6. in a loading machine, the combmation' positioned at the rear of said centerof gravity comprising a transversely extendin bar upon which said conveyor is laterally slidable, and means to vertically adjust said bar to rock said conveyor upons'aid pivotsupport.

5.111 a loading machine, the combination with a Wheeled truck, of an arcuate rail fixed to the forward end offsa id truck and extending transversely thereof, a transversely extending vertically ad ustable bar mounted on the rear part of said truck, a self-contained elongated conveyor laterally slidable upon said bar and having a rocking bearing upon said arcuate rail, means: to'prevent lateral movement of the rear end 'of said conveyor,

and means to laterally move said conveyor with a wheeled truck, of an arcuate rail fixed to the forward. end of said truck and extend ing transversely thereof, of a transversely extending vertically adjustable bar mounted on the rear part of said truck, a self contained elongated conveyor laterally slidalole'upon said bar and having a rocking bearing upon said arcuate rail, means to prevent lateral movement of the rear end of said conveyor and power devices upon the conveyor frame adapted to" move said conveyor laterally along said arcuate rail.

7. In a loading machine," the combination with a wheeled truck adapted to travel along a mine track, of a transversely extending arcuate rail fixed to the forward end of said truck, a transversely extending bar mounted on the rear part of said truck, a selfcontained elongated conveyor slidably supported upon said bar and having a rocking bearing upon said arcuate rail, and power devices upon saidtruck adapted to bodily move the truck longitudinally of tile track and to ver tically adjust the'transverse bar as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a loading machine, the combination with a wheeled truck, of a transvei' sely'extending arcuate rail fixed to the forward end of the truck, a transversely extending bar mounted on the rear, part of said truck, a self-contained elongated conveyor laterally slidable upon said bar and having a rocking bearing upon said arcuate rail, means to prevent lateral movement of the'rear end of the conveyor, means to laterally move said conveyor along said arcuate rai and power devices upon the truck adapted to vertically adjust either or both ends of said transverse bar as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a loading machine, the combination with a supporting truck, fan elongatedself contained conveyor supported thereon and comprising a laterally disposed trough'and centrally disposed chain guides, an endless chain arranged-to travel in said chain guides and having laterally projecting sockets renewable cutterhits secured therein and positioned and arranged to engage material in the conveyor trough and propel it therealong, gathering mechanism comprising an extension frame hinged to the forward end oft-he conveyor frame and adapted to rest upon and slide over the floor of a mine, chain guides in said extension frame adapted to guide said cl in in a path adjacent the mine floor to cause said cutter bits to engage material on the mine floor andmove'it onto said conve or trough, a pivotal support for said conveyor i .dway its l ngth upon which it may be rocked in any direction, and means to rock the'conveyor uponeaid pivotal support to lift said gathering mechanism clear of the floor preparatory to moving from one working place to another. I

10. in a loading machine, the combination with an elongated self-contained conveyor having laterally disposed troughs and centrally disposed chain guides, an endless chain adapted to travel along the chain guides, laterally projectingsockets on the chain, cutterbits removably secured inthe sockets in po sition to engage material in the troughs and propel it therealong, an extension frame length upon which it may be rocked in any direction, and means to move said pivotal support transversely of the machine to feed said gathering mechanism to the material which is to be loaded,

11. In a loading machine, the combination of a truck adapted to be moved over a mine floor, an elongated conveyor having a lateral trough and centrally disposed guideways in which travels an endless chain, sockets formed on said chain,-cutter,bits secured in said sockets and together constituting laterally projecting arms adapted topr'opel material along the trough, a vertically adjustable pivot mounting for said conveyor on said tr ck to permit horizontal movements of saidconveyor,a second laterally movable pivot mounting for said conveyor on s'aid'truck to permit vertical movements of said conveyor, an extension frame hinged to the forward end of said conveyor and adapted to rest-upon and slide over the floor of amine, said extension frame having guideways whereby the chain may beguided along a path adj acent the mine floor in such position that the cutterb1ts willengage material lying thereon and move it onto said conveyor trough, asu'pport for said conveyor midway its length, and

means torock'said conveyor upon'said sup-V port; V a Y Y r w truck and transport it to elevated discharge points in the rear thereof, cutting devices adap ed to form a path for said conveyor in the material in advance of said truck, and pivotal devices arranged to hold the delivery end of said conveyor against horizontal movement relative to said truck.

13. In a cut 11g and loading machine, th combination with a wheeled truck, of a transversely extending support at the forward part of said truck, a transversely extending support mounted for vertical adjustment on the rearward part of said truck, a self-contained conveyor slidable upon supports and adapted to gather material from a mine floor in advance of said truck and transport it to elevated discharge points in the rear thereof, cutting devices adapted to form a path for said conveyor in the material in advance of said truck, and vertically movable pivotal devices arranged to hold the delivery end of said conveyor against horizontal movement relative to said truck.

14. In a loading machine, the combination with a wheeled truck, of a transversely extending support at the forwarc part of said truck, a transversely extending support mounted for vertical adjustment at the rearward part of said truck, a self-contained conveyor slidable upon said supports and adapted to gather material from a mine floor in advance of said truck and transport it to elevated discharge points in the rear thereof, cutting devices adapted to form a path for said conveyor in the material in advance of said truck, a vertically movable pivotal device arranged to hold the delivery end of said conveyor against horizontal movement relative to the truck, and self-contained power devices upon the truck arranged to move said conveyor about its pivot.

15. In a cutting and loading machine, the combination with a wheeled truck, of a transversely extending support at the forwar part of said truck, a transversely extending support mounted for vertical adjustment at the rearward part of said truck a self contained conveyor slidable upon said supports and adapted to gather material from a mine floor in advance of said truck and transport it to elevated discharge points in the rear thereof, cutting devices adapted to form a path for said conveyor in the material in advance of said true I, vertically adjustable d vices arranged to hold the delivery end of said conveyor against horizontal movement relative to the truck, and self-cont aincd power devices upon the truck arranged to move said conveyor in any direction relative to the material to be loaded.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a support movable over a mine floor, a frame pivoted for vertical movement on a pivot laterally shiftable on said support, an independent vertically adjustable pivotal support for said frame to permit horizontal movement, conveying mechanism on said framc, means for tilting said frame in vertical planes, and independent means for swinging said frame in horizontal planes.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a support movable over a mine floor, a frame pivoted between its ends on said support for vertical movement, a track member on which said frame pivot is shiftable, an independent vertically adjustable pivot-a1 support for said frame to permit hori zontal movement of said frame and its first named pivot mounting, means for tilting said frame on its first mentioned pivot mounting, and independent means for shifting said frame and its pivot mounting laterally along said track member.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a base adapted to be moved over a mine floor, a vertically adjustable support on said base, a frame pivotally mounted on said support for horizontal movemei'it, coal handling mechanism carried by said frame, and a second laterally shiftable pivot member supported by said base on which said frame and its mechanism is mounted for vertical movement.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a base adapted to be moved over a mine floor, a vertically adjustable support mounted on said base, a frame pivotally connected to said vertically adjustable support at one end extending forwardly of said base at the other end, coal handling mechanism carried by said frame, a second pivotal connection supporting said frame for universal rocking movement, and a trackway mounted on said base upon which said second pivotal support is laterally shiftable.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a base adapted to be moved over a mine floor, a verti ally adjustable trackway mounted on said base, a pivot mounting extending horizontally from said trackway, a frame mounted for horizontal movement on said pivot and resting upon said trackway, coal handling mechanism mounted on said frame, a second pivot mounting for said frame to permit vertical movement, and an arcuate trackway on said base supporting said second pivot mounting to permit lateral movement thereof.

21. In a machine of the class described, a base adapted to be moved over a mine floor or the like, an elongated conveyor frame disposed above said base and extending from the be supported in operative position on the floor, the rearward portion of said conveyor projecting substantially beyond the base,

hang, and means to vertically adjust said means .on the base to support, the rear end of the frame for vertical swin in and lateral displacement and to bear the weight of the said end in all positions of the frame, and pivoting means for projecting extremity of the frame spaced rearwardly from said supporting means, said pivoting means being supported from the base and arranged to give the projecting end of the frame a free overhang.

22. In a machine of the class described, a base adapted to be moved over a mine floor or the like, an elongated conveyor frame dis-- posed above said base and extending from the floor level in advance of the base to, a delivery point above and to the rear of the base, the forward end of said frame being adapted to be supported in operative position on the 5 floor, the rearward portion of said conveyor projecting substantially beyond the base, means on the base to support the rear end of the frame for vertical swinging and lateral displacement and to bear the weight of the said end in all positions of the frame, pivoting means for the projecting extremity of the frame spaced rearwardly from said supporting means, said pivoting means being stippcrted from the base and arranged to give the projecting end of the frame a free oversupporting means and said pivoting means. 23. In a machine of the class described, a

base adapted to be moved overa mine floor or the like, an elongated conveyor frame disposed above said basev and extendingfrom the floor level in advance of the base to a delivery point above and to the rear of the base, the forward end of $3,161 frame being adapted to be supported in operative position on the floor, the rearward portion of said conveyor proj ecting substantially beyond the base, means on the base to support the rear end of the frame for vertical swinging and lateral displacement and to bear the weight of the said end in all positions on the frame, a horizontally extending arm beneath the projectingend of said frame, said arm having a pivotal connection with the base to permit it to swing in vertical planes, and a vertical pivot connecting the extremities of said arm and said frame, said arm being so disposed as to give the projectingend of the frame a free overhang.

2a. In a machine of the class described, a base adapted to be moved over a mine floor or the like, an elongatedconveyor frame disposed above said base and extending from the floor level in advance of the base to a delivery point above and to the rear. of the base,

said end in all positions on the frame, a horizontally extending arm beneath the projecting end of-said frame, said arm having a pivotal connection with the base to permit it to swing in vertical planes, a vertical pivot connecting the extremities of said arm and said frame, said arm being so disposed as to give the pro jecting end of the frame a free overhang,and means to vertically adjust said supporting: means and said horizontally extending arm,

In a machine of the class described, a, base adapted to be moved over a mine floor or the like, elongated conveyorframe disposed, above said bare and extending fromv the fioor'level in advance of the base to a delivery point above and to the rear of the base, the f rward end of said frame being adapted to be upported in operative position on the floor, he'rearward por ion of said: conveyor proecting substantially beyond the base, means onthe base to support itlierear end of the frame for vertical swinging and lateral displacement andto bear the weight of the said end in all positions of the frame, a horizon-1 tally extending armbeneath the projecting end of said frame,said arm havin'ga direct pivotal connection with said support to, por mit it to swing in vertical planes,.and a verical pivot connectng the extremities of said arm. and said frame, said arm beingso dis base adapted tobe moved over a mine floor or the like, .an elongated conveyor frame dis} posed above said base: and extending from the floor level in advance of the base to a delivery point above and to the rear ofthe base, the forward end of. said frame being adapted to be supportedin operative position on the floor, the rearward portion of said conveyor projecting substantially beyond the base, means on'thebase to support the rear end of the frame for vertical swinging and: lateral displacement andto bear the weight of thesaid end inall positions of the frame, a horizontally extending arm beneath. the pro jecting end of said frame, "said arm having a direct pivotal connection with said support to permit it to swing in vertical planes, a vertical overhang, and meansto vertically adjust said supporting means and therewith said horizontally extending arm.

27.111 a machine ofthe class described, an elongated conveyor frame extending from a point at the supporting surface for the machine to a remote elevated point, a cutter arm forming a forward continuation of said frame, a continuous draft device traversing said frame and arm, and cutter bits carried by said draft device.

28. In a machine of the class described, a frame having elongated horizontal and up Wardly extending portions, the horizontal portion being adapted to rest upon a mine floor, an endless draft device circulating longitudinally of said frame, cutter bits mount ed on said draft device, and means for laterally moving said frame to engage the cutter hits at the horizontal frame portion in a mass of material to disrupt and gather the material and convey it to and along the upwardly extending frame portion for delivery to a receiving point.

29. In a machine of the class described, a frame having elongated horizontal and upwardly extending portions, the horizontal portion being adapted to rest upon a mine floor, an endless draft device circulating longitudinally of said frame, cutter bits mounted 011 said draft device, the frame having peripheral guides for said draft device whereby the cutter hits at the horizontal frame portion are sustained in freely projecting relation over the mine floor, and means for laterally moving said frame to engage the cutter bits at the horizontal frame portion in a mass of material to disrupt and gather the material and convey it to and along the upwardly eX- tending frame portion for delivery to a receiving point.

30. In a machine of the class described, an elongated conveyor frame extending from a point at the supporting surface for the ma chine to a remote elevated point, a cutter arm forming a forward continuation of said frame, pivotal means connecting the frame and cutter arm and having a horizontal axis extending transversely of the frame and cutter arm, a continuous draft device traversing said frame and arm, and cutter bit-s carried by said draft device.

31. In a machine of the class described, an elongated conveyor frame extending from a point at the supporting surface for the machine to a remote elevated point, a cutter arm forming a forward continuation of said frame, a pivotal means connecting the frame and cutter arm and having a horizontal axis extending transversely of the frame and cutter arm, means to limit the pivotal movement of the cutter arm relative to the frame about said axis, a continuous draft device traversing said frame and arm, and cutter bits carried by said draft device.

In testimony whereof, I my signature.

NILS D. LEVIN. 

